Why do coconuts float in water?
Show answer & explanation
Answer: Fibrous husk provides flotation
Oily flesh is buoyant — Wrong. Coconut meat is denser than water. Buoyancy comes from the thick, fibrous husk surrounding the shell—it's lightweight and waterproof.
Hollow center keeps them light — Wrong. The center isn't hollow—it contains coconut water. Coconuts float because the thick, fibrous husk is full of air pockets and is less dense than water, providing excellent buoyancy.
Fibrous husk provides flotation ✓ — Correct! Coconuts have a thick fibrous husk (mesocarp) between the outer skin and hard shell. This layer is lightweight, waterproof, and traps air—perfect flotation! Coconut palms grow on tropical coasts; fruits fall into ocean and drift to new islands for seed dispersal. Some travel thousands of kilometers!